Mumbai, March 11 (NationPress) Amid significant criticism surrounding his newest release, "Tateeree," singer Sona Mohapatra has publicly criticized rapper Badshah. She highlighted what she perceives as the recurring misogynistic themes prevalent in pop music and urged artists to recognize their cultural responsibilities.

Sona expressed her thoughts candidly on Instagram, noting that the content isn't a novel occurrence. She remarked on a familiar pattern where a male artist "puffs up his chest, showcases his masculinity, objectifies women, and positions himself as an irresistible hero while women merely serve as props for admiration."

She further ridiculed the lyrical bravado typical of such tracks, labeling it as “tu mujhpe marti hai, mujhpe jaan chidakti hai” type of nonsensical swagger, arguing that it represents the laziest trope in pop culture rather than showcasing authentic creativity.

She added that merely identifying as a “son of Haryana” does not excuse problematic representations. "And just calling yourself a 'son of Haryana' with a sad face doesn’t cut it,” she stated.

Mohapatra pointed out that Haryana grapples with severe gender issues, including poor gender ratios, violence against women, and honor killings, emphasizing that artists must acknowledge the weight of their cultural impact.

“Artists shape imagination. You can either challenge misogyny or benefit from it,” she asserted. She urged Badshah and others in the industry to elevate their content and encouraged fans to be more discerning: “BADSHAH & this lot, do better. & those of you fashion victim wannabes paying for this nonsense… grow a brain or a soul?”

In her post, she lamented the portrayal of young girls in uniforms as mere props, stating, “Stop with this brain & soul rot. #India deserves better.”

In response to the backlash, Badshah received a notice from the Haryana State Women’s Commission, requesting his presence on March 13 to discuss the matter further.

This notice came after complaints by Savita Arya, president of Nari Tu Narayani Sanstha, Panipat, and Shiv Kumar, head of Shiv Aarti Foundation, who objected to the line “Aaya Badshah doli chaddhane, in sabki ghodi banane.” They claimed the song employed offensive language and depicted minors in school uniforms boarding a Haryana Roadways bus while discarding school bags.

On March 7, Badshah addressed the situation, stating that he is a proud Haryanavi and had no intention of depicting children or women negatively through his music.

He further clarified that his roots in the Hip-Hop genre often involve lyrics aimed at confronting rivals.